Trash receptacle compactor

Abstract

A trash receptacle compactor for compacting trash in a trash receptacle enclosed in a housing, including a plunger disposed within the housing in alignment with the trash receptacle and lever means outside of the housing and interconnected with the plunger for selectively operating the plunger to compact trash within the receptacle.

I claim: 
     
       1. In combination with a receptacle having an upper open end, a trash compacting apparatus mounted on said open end for repeatedly compacting loose trash in said receptacle comprising: a plunger configured generally to fit complementally in the open end of the receptacle; a plunger operating lever mechanism which supports the plunger for actuated compacting movement into and return movement out of the receptacle including, a manually operable handle and handle support to be pivotally attached to the receptacle; means joining the handle as an operating lever to the plunger to activate the plunger, said lever means including swing links joining the handle and the plunger; and spring return means for the handle to elevate the handle when released, said spring return means being combined with guides which guide, direct and stabilize movement of the handle and plunger, and said guides being cylinders to be pivotally attached to the housing, guide rods coaxial with the cylinders, and having ends pivotally attached to the handle, and coil springs surrounding the guide rods to return the handle. 
     
     
       2. In combination with a receptacle received in a housing and having an upper open end, the dimensions of the receptacle being complemental to the housing, an apparatus mounted on the open end of the receptacle for compacting build-up of trash in said receptacle comprising: a plunger juxtaposed to said open end and sized complementally with said receptacle open end; and a lever support for said plunger normally locating the plunger above the top of said open end, allowing a manual thrust on the plunger to advance the plunger into the receptacle to compact trash therein while allowing return of the plunger to its normal position following manual compaction, said lever support being attached to and mounted on said housing, and said housing having an opening therein to allow trash to be thrust into the receptacle, and said housing including a top, in which the lever support comprises a generally U-shaped spring handle having a pair of arms pivotally mounted to the top of the housing, a pair of guide cylinders each pivotally supported at one end on the top of the housing and containing guide rods pivotally attached to said arms, and coil springs encompassing said rods to apply a force to position the handle in a normal elevated position when the plunger is above the trash level of the receptacle.